Hike day! A warm one amidst the cold, getting into the upper 20's in the
afternoon, cloudy but little to no wind. After lunch we headed over to
the nearby Indian Lake Pathway trail, a fairly short 4 1/2 mile trail
divided into three loops with cross trails. We figured the wet
Pathway Loop 1 should be well frozen by now. Our previous hikes on this
trail had convinced us that frozen was the only way to comfortably walk
the first section, unless it was warm and you didn't mind wet feet. But
the outer higher area (Loop 3) is the gem we were looking forward to
revisiting.
The small parking lot was plowed and the narrow ski groomer had quite
recently been through to lay tracks (and to saw out the many fallen
trees blocking the trail). But beside the tracks there was a nice flat
section (made by the groomer snowmachine) that we could walk/snowshoe on. How
nice! It was firm enough so I opted to leave my snowshoes in the car but
Steve wore his. It looked like easy walking so we could probably do the
entire trail (4 1/2 miles); there should be enough time. So off we went.
Well, it didn't take long to find that the real nice flat base for
snowshoeing beside the ski tracks only went as far as where they parked
the small groomer by the side of the trail. That track was simply the
snowmachine getting there. We could have turned back but there was just
enough room to walk beside the ski tracks, so we decided to continued.
This trail doesn't get much use so we weren't concerned about being in
the way of a skier. I had about a foot wide firm (mostly) area to walk
and the trail itself was usually wide enough for room for the
snowshoes. The regular snowmobile trail, recently groomed, enticingly flat and
wide, crossed the Pathway several times and followed close beside often.
We had thought we might walk over there but it was easy to hear that the snomo trail was in full use as machine after machine went by. We stayed
on our own trail.
But we wanted to walk a bit more so we decided to head on into town to
the Boardwalk which would add another nice hour's walk, just
enough time before dark for that. On our way we checked out the nearby
Big Spring where a friend had said he had snowshoed around.
They had
roughly plowed the drive in and an area to park. There were three
snowmobiles there and from the tracks it is a popular destination. We
walked down the very well trod path to the Spring with the temperature
heading down as we went. There were a number of signs placed around
asking people to stay on the path to protect the fragile banks and
roots of trees, so obviously we weren't going to head out walking around
the Spring. But we joined the three snowmobilers on the raft to admire
the big fish as they pointed them out (this was obviously their first
visit here and it was fun to hear their enthusiasm - it IS an amazing
spot). The view across the water and up the River was wonderful, made
more so by several small groups of ducks moving about (and out of sight as
soon as the camera was ready).
April 5, 2021 --
Re-visiting Indian Lake Pathway
When we walked the local snowmobile trail Saturday we passed by two
spots where the Indian Lake Pathway trail crosses, a reminder that we
wanted to walk that trail now that the snow was gone, and before
mosquito season, since we had guessed that the lower Loop area might be
wet. Today we had to go into Manistique so we stopped on our way home to
walk the now bare trail.
It was indeed bare of snow (except for a few spots) and the low Loop 1
was indeed wet. In fact we spent as much time finding ways around the
marsh and water filled low areas on the trail and surrounding grounds as
we did just walking this section. As we remembered (it was only two
months ago that we walked this trail in the snow) this is woods thick
with young re-growth, and much easier to walk when frozen. It may dry up
later in the summer but spring is a time to avoid this Loop. It would be
beter to go on the snowmobile/orv two-track to where the Pathway trail
crosses and just walk Loops 2 and 3.
B
ut
soon we were on the 2nd Loop which is higher, hillier, and with a more
complete woods of mixed ages and types. There were even a couple of
large, healthy looking live beeches, along with the many young ones
doing their best to reforest this once heavy beech woods. We left most
of the "trail ponds" behind. It was a beautiful sunny mid-50's day and
we enjoyed this section. Since this is a "lightly" managed trail one had
to keep alert for rough footing, especially those sticks that jumped up
to try to trip you when you stepped on one end. Quite a different walk
than the fairly easy snowmobile/ORV two-track. There was a wind but in
the heavier woods it was light and we warmed up and shed layers. Just
before we got to Loop 3 and the higher terrain we were ready for lunch,
spying a creatively shaped cherry tree to stop near. This is also where
the Pathway Trail and the snomo-ORV trails run side-by-side for a ways
before the hiking trail crosses to head up into higher ground. It was so
nice to have it warm enough to enjoy sitting, removing shoes, admiring
the woods around us.
We looked forward to the hills and ridges of Loop 3 with its "most
difficult" ZZ designation (for skiiers). A less logged, even nicer woods
section it was hard to keep an eye on the rough trail while gazing at
the forest. We weren't disappointed, this is a real nice trail, a
beautiful forest, and some nice views down into lower valleys. It was
also much easier walking without a foot or so of snow. Fun to touch base
with remembered spots - where we ate lunch, where the intrepid skiier
had to dismount to go over a large downed tree, then the tree across the
steep down-hill. Plus a few more downed trees. The dead beeches are
still falling.
It seemed shorter going back down and back along Loop 3, then 2,
stopping to look at the maps at the intersections even though we knew
where we were. It's a well marked fairly simple, enjoyable trail. But
toward the end of Loop 2 we were back to the wetlands, making our way
around mini-(and not so mini) swamps, trying to keep our eye on the not
very distinct this time of year trail. Most of the path looked quite
different in its spring coat instead of white snow. We ended up
taking the north cross path of Loop 1 without knowing it until we found
ourselves on the NE leg instead of the SW leg heading back to the
parking lot. The wind had picked up and was felt more in this open area,
and not exactly warm yet. It was good to get back to firm and dry
ground! Plus a warm car. But overall we enjoyed our afternoon re-visit
to this nice local Pathway.
February 1, 2021 -- Starting February
with the Indian Lake Ski Trail
Only 8 miles from home is a nice little 4.5
mile hiking/biking/skiing DNR trail - the Indian Lake Pathway. Since
it was a beautiful, upper 20's, calm wind, partly cloudy day (also
known as a hiking day), and we had need to go into Manistique, we
decided to look into this trail on our way home. If it didn't look
like it was worth walking we would walk on down the road to the
local snowmobile trail. We knew there was a parking area at the
Pathway and, thankfully, it was nicely and completely plowed. Not
surprisingly, given the low amount of snow, there were more boot
tracks on the trail than ski tracks so we didn't mind adding our own
shoe tracks, there not being enough snow to require boots, and we
prefer walking in shoes (with wool socks).
There was sun-time for a couple hours walk
and the map showed three consecutive loops, the longest being 4.5
miles. Just right for our walk. The trail at the trail-head end was
well packed with tracks so walking was pretty easy, if a bit lumpy.
And especially through the first loop there were plenty of blue
trail markers and easy to read maps at the intersections so one was
unlikely to get lost. But the trial crosses several snowmobile-roads
and there were many well traveled animal trails criss-crossing the
main trail so if you weren't paying attention, or if there had been
a fresh new snowfall with no tracks, the markers would be much
appreciated. As the trail went on there weren't so many, but there
were enough.
The overcast sky gave way to sun as we
walked and there was just
occasional light winds, mostly blocked by
the woods, so it was enjoyably mild. The first loop went through a
sparse woods which had been logged, mostly (my guess) due to the
dead and dying beech. The area was thick with young growing beech
trees, decked out in their pretty sienna colored winter leaves that
shiver with any hint of breeze, and dance lively in a wind, making a
soothing rustling sound. Hopefully these young ones will survive to
re-create a beautiful beech forest one day. Meantime, it was a
pleasant woods and it let the sporadic sun shine through. There were
several ski tracks on the trail though it must have been a
challenging trek with the lack of snow, the abundance of boot and
animal tracks, and periodic areas of young brush in the trail.
Walking had to be easier.
As we walked on through the second loop the
woods were a little thicker with some red pine plantation, and the
people tracks fewer. Around the third, outer, loop we lost all but
one dedicated skiier and one hiker. The terrain became hilly,
interesting, and the mixed hardwoods more dense, though still with a
fair number of large dead beech and young growth. It was a nice
forest and the sun shining through made it even better. The deer and
coyote tracks and animal trails became even more numerous.
At the far end of the third loop where it
curves around to go back there were two ZZ signs on the map -- most
difficult. So it was no surprise when we came to a higher ridge and
a nice climb upward with the herring-bone tracks of the skiier in
the snow. We decided to stop and eat our lunch at the top in the
area between the signs. We found a spot near a large dead beech that
had fallen across the trail and settled down on a nicely placed
mound beside the trail. With the sun warming us through the trees we
rested and ate our warm salsa and rice lunch. What a beautiful
world.
We dug in our heels as we made our way down
the other side of the high ridge and paused to step over a tree
toppled across the path. That had to be a disappointment to the
skiier, to have a nice, though steep, down-hill interrupted by a
tree. But they obviously got over it and continued on as did we,
walking beside the ski tracks when we could, making a trail for
whoever might come after, often walking in the well traveled animal
tracks. We had lost the lone hiker at the shortcut across loop 3
before one got to the big hill. Walking in the loose snow was a lot
like walking in dry sand on the beach. It was an enjoyable walk back,
a reverse of the woods types we'd encountered earlier, the sun
warming us up enough to remove some layers. And then it was only a short
trip home in the car which was nice..
We'll likely walk this trail again, snow
allowing, and there is always the option of getting off the trail
and walking the groomed Snowmobile Trail #7 which crosses the
Pathway in several spots. But that will be for another day.
* * * * * *
Copyright
© 2021 by Susan Robishaw and Stephen Schmeck
On
up Loop 2 we went, walking on one side, then the other, then
back as the ski tracks varied side to side, and as we avoided brambles
and brush and the whippy small branches of young beech trees spreading
out into the opening. So with eyes down to stay off the ski tracks and
eyes up to avoid getting slapped in the face we made it to the start of
Loop 3, and the start of the higher beautifully wooded section.
Unfortunately, the groomer didn't head up there, he went on around Loop2
leaving the beautiful Loop 3 to the deer (lots of tracks). And since I
didn't have my snowshoes on we couldn't go there either. So we followed
the groomed tracks back down 2 then 1 to the parking lot. Though not the
longer walk we'd planned it was a good hour and half trek. We decided we
would come back after a good snowfall and before the groomer got out to
snowshoe more comfortably up and around the whole trail.
.